Restoring Community Public Art

Childhood is Without Prejudice

Childhood is Without Prejudice
William Walker
56th Street and Stony Island, 1977 Sometimes referred to as Children of Goodwill. Walker created this mural as a tribute to nearby Harte School. His daughter had attended school there and Walker wanted to express his appreciation for the school’s promotion of racial harmony. The tripartite mural, Walker’s personal favorite, includes a series of interlocking faces representing the potential unity of all races. Walker originally used interlocking faces in his work to symbolize brotherhood in the black community; in later works he painted faces of various hues and genders to challenge people toi engage in the difficult task of forming interracial bonds. Excerpted from “Urban Art” by Olivia Gude and Jeff Huebner.